The Process and Promise of Sanctification

Sometimes, I must admit, I put God in a box.  I assume He will work a certain way.  I assume He will use me in a certain way in my gifting.  I become too comfortable in who I am, thinking that I will always be this way or serve Him this way.  

But His still, small voice speaks.  And He nudges, oh so gently, and shows me a different perspective, a new focus, a new possibility!  I stand in awe of how God is always working way ahead of us, preparing us for the next chapter as we are being sanctified.

Such was the case recently, when in the beginning of our 10th year on the mission field in Rio de Janeiro, He called us to return to the United States---as missionaries---to plant a new church with a focus on disciple-making and evangelism.  

It came at a time when it humanly made no sense.  We were 100% supported for our ministry on the field for the 10th year in a row.   The dollar was strong at 3 to 1.  And we saw God working in Rio in amazing ways---with many people coming to Christ daily!  It is our hope to introduce you to many Brazilians in eternity because of our combined efforts!

And yet....we were getting comfortable.  Too comfortable, if that possible in Rio de Janeiro, a city known for it's violence.

God showed us that it was time to take another risk for Him.  It was time to "GO", as missionaries sent from Brazil.   Each time we returned to the USA within the last 3 years or so, our hearts were heavy when we would see what was happening in the US as we worked together with passionate Christ followers in Brazil who were on fire for the Lord!

So now we simply obey Him, "GO", and let go again.  Let go of all that is familiar.  Let go of our comforts in Rio...our friends, our Brazilian "families", our ministries and let go and leave behind of all of our earthly belongings.  

We start all over again.  With GREAT anticipation, remembering the promises in His word that He will sanctify us.  Again, we cling to the promise in 1 Thessalonians 5:24, "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."

We claim this verse for our youngest daughter, Hannah and her fiance, Jake, as well.  They, too, are "going", as God has called them after their wedding and honeymoon back to Rio, where Jake will teach at the International Christian school that our children attended when they lived there.  They, too, will leave all their comforts and begin a new chapter as a married couple in the process of sanctification.

We covet your prayers, partnership, continued friendship and support as we continue to work together make His name known.

Humble servants of the mighty king, Jesus,

Diane and Jeff

Chegamos!

Mateus 28:19, "Portanto, vão e façam discípulos de todas as nações, batizando-os em nome do Pai e do Filho e do Espírito Santo,"

Eu e o Jeff chegamos bem!  Os pais do jeff, a nossa filha Jessica e nossa netinha Marissa, nos buscaram no aeroporto em Minneapolis e fomos pra um restaurante para comemorar nossa volta pra casa!

Estamos vendo a montanha de coisas na nossa frente e estamos cansados, mas no mesmo tempo, olhamos pra frente com muito anticipaçao e alegria! Estamos no centro da vontade de Deus!

Agora vamos começar a escrever em português no nosso blog, para todos nossos irmãos brasileiros lerem, (se eles quiserem) para que saibam o que Deus está fazendo e como ele esta trabalhando enquanto nós plantamos essa nova igreja!

Amanhã vamos pra igreja com a família da nossa filha Jessica para celebrar a Pascoa. Durante os ultimos 9 anos, celebramos Pascoa só uma vez aqui nos EUA!

Orem pela nossa nova igreja!  Vamos conhecer a igreja mãe, que esta nos enviando para implantar essa igreja domingo que vem!

Trabalhando juntos para o reino de Deus,

Diane e Jeff

English:

Jeff and I arrived well!  Jeff's parents, our daughter, Jessica and our granddaughter, Marissa, picked us up at the airport in Minneapolis and we went to a restaurant to commemorate our return home!

We are looking at a mountain of things in front of us and we are tired, but, at the same time, we look ahead with great anticipation and joy!  We feel we are in the center of God's will!

We will begin to write our blog in portuguese so that all of our Brazilian brothers can read (if they want) and know what God is doing and how he is working while we plant this new church!

Tomorrow, we will go to church with Jessica's family to celebrate Easter!  During the past 9 years, we celebrated Easter only one time here in the United States!

Pray for our new church!  We will meet the mother church that is sending us to plant this church next Sunday!

Working together for the kingdom of God,


Diane and Jeff

We Stand in AWE of Him!

Pastor Jon and Pastor Jeff

It's been a busy few days, after being commissioned by two churches here in Brazil to go as Pastor, missionaries and church planters to the United States.  

We're doing our best to say goodbye to so many brothers-in-Christ and friends, and I'm not even going to try to remember the dates that God began to orchestrate all the details...I will, however, share how I remember Him working!  He is always at work ahead of us!  

Some years ago, while Jeff and I were stateside and visiting a family in Quincy, Illinois, regarding their desire to come to Rio on a vision trip, we stopped at a McDonalds on our way back to Minneapolis to pick up our e-mails.

I remember that we received an e-mail from a pastor in Des Moines asking us if we were receptive to receiving a short-term team from his church.  We jumped on it, as we felt the Holy Spirit directing us and immediately responded in the affirmative.

We consequently ended up meeting with him, meeting his team, training his short-term team stateside and receiving them here in Rio.

God connected us to Pastor Jon and He has called us as pastor/missionaries/church planters to Grimes, Iowa, to join together with Jon to plant a new church!  

Daily, God has confirmed this calling---and for this we give Him praise!  There is no better place to be than in the center of His will!

After almost a decade here in Rio, we will leave later this week to work together with this young pastor to plant a church in Grimes, Iowa! We stand in awe of how God works!

We've learned a great dependence on God here on the mission field in Rio!  For 10 years, He has provided everything, including financial resources for us on the field.

Once again, we will leave our comfort, (if Rio can even be called that!), our home, our "family", our ministry and our lives and start all over again from zero, trusting Him to direct and provide all that we need.

We're completely different people than we were 10 years ago when we left Johnston, Iowa!  We've adapted to Brazilian culture, we're relational and we're use to going into some intense places with intense ministry.

Pray that we can reach the lost and bring a contagious passion for Christ like non-other!  Pray that we can ignite and inspire people to boldly and gently go out and walk where Jesus would walk and raise up fully-committed Christ followers as we strive together to further His kingdom and plant His church.

Whether here or there, sharing the hope we have in Christ with all,

Diane and Jeff

Responding to God's Call

We’re in the beginning of our tenth year as missionaries here in Rio de Janeiro and we could write a book telling of all the wondrous ways that God has worked!  We love to tell these “God stories”!  

Recently, God has been working in an amazing way in our lives and we want to share with you this new story.

Four weeks ago Diane and I were finishing up our time in the USA with a visit to California, where we were meeting with a partner church and also spending time with some dear friends of ours.  

After our time there, we were at the airport (Los Angeles) sitting at the gate, ready to return to Minneapolis and prepare to return to Rio in 3 days.  At the gate, we sat and prayed intensely, seeking His direction for the coming year.

We arrived into Minneapolis after midnight and Jeff glanced at his emails.  He saw one from a dear pastor friend and the subject line said, “before you say no”.  He waited until morning, as it seemed serious and he needed to sleep.  

In the morning we read the email and the pastor shared with us that he is planting a church and has been seeking another pastor to come alongside him.  He then shared how he also had a "shalom" time of prayer the day before and during this time God spoke to him clearly saying, "ASK JEFF".  

We were stunned!  This led us on a 2-week journey of seeking the Lord’s confirmation whether or not this was His will for our lives.  God spoke in extremely clear and amazing ways to confirm that yes it was!!  So we said, “Yes, God, we will go” and accepted this offer to help plant a church in Grimes, Iowa. 

From a human point of view this opportunity made no sense.  Our work in Rio was effective and bearing fruit, our financial support was at 100%, God had removed our obstacles (visa, big fine mess, etc.) and the dollar has never been stronger.  

Then we looked at the opportunity to help plant a church.  The finances will need to be raised, we have never planted a church in the USA, and it will take a huge amount of energy and on and on.  

However, we know that God calls us to do hard things for Him and to completely depend on Him so He may show His power!

We have many details to attend to as we transition back to the USA.  Leaving will be very difficult, as we will always love and cherish the Brazilian people and this country!  We need to say our goodbyes to both friends and places and celebrate what God has done these past almost 10 years!

Please pray for us as we transition back to the USA!

Responding to His call,

Jeff and Diane